Chargers gets compensatory pick, cut Byrd

The Chargers were awarded a compensatory fifth-round draft
selection (168 overall) in next month's NFL Draft, the NFL
announced today, as compensation for losing free agents last
season.

Under terms of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team
losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in
the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks.
Last year the team lost defensive end Igor Olshansky and guard Mike
Goff and signed linebacker Kevin Burnett in free agency.

Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on
salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was
developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost
or signed by a club is covered by this formula.

A total of 32 compensatory choices in the 2010 NFL Draft were
awarded to 19 teams.

The Chargers also have released wide receiver Demetrius Byrd.
Byrd was a seventh-round choice out of Louisiana State in the 2009
NFL Draft who suffered major injuries in a car accident just days
prior to the draft. Despite the injuries, the Chargers selected him
and generously extended him a contract for the season.